WurfWhile

Hillary Clinton eked out victory over Barack Obama by a couple percentage points in New Hampshire tonight. Her victory is interesting. While I certainly buy the idea that Clinton’s greater accessibility to voters may have helped - I don’t buy the idea that 90 minute detailed Q&A sessions in large crowds are the long-term key to success (however much it might make for a more substantive process). Nonetheless, for the moment, even long Q&A sessions may have sent a needed message. While the Obama campaign has emphasized the importance of people and incorporated ‘people-power’ in the campaign, Clinton’s campaign has been remote in style and substance. Changing that aspect of her campaign can only help Hillary Clinton’s cause.

While the polls were wrong enough to make dependence upon them foolhardy, the exit polling suggests that the economy, Iraq and health care were the top issues for New Hampshire Democrats (they’re also my top issues). Depending on who you’re reading now Clinton did better or as well as Obama on the first issue, and Obama did better on the other two. Obama should consider his economic message going forward - it’s a good bet the economy will stay on the front burner with a Bush recession looming (if not already here).